ISO sensitivity not displayed on viewfinder status bar while being
changed

Slow RAW conversion (with supplied FileViewerUtility)

Overall conclusion

The EOS 300D is a formidable camera, not from a feature
set point of view. Not from a body finish point of view (which is actually
better than I'm sure you're thinking). Not from how its feature set compares
to other digital SLR's (although it can certainly hold its own), but rather
for what it offers, for its value for money. And for what this camera
could mean for the future of digital SLR's and the entire prosumer digital
camera market. There's no doubt that there is an important place for cameras
such as Sony's DSC-F828 and Minolta's DiMAGE A1, but you would have to
be wearing blinkers not to realize that anyone considering spending over
$1000 on an all-in-one camera such as that will now put the EOS 300D Kit
high on their list.

Clearly Canon realized that they had the advantage, they designed and
make the superb six megapixel CMOS sensor which has now made its way into
its third digital SLR body (although we understand they have refined and
reduced the cost of production). They had the DiGiC processor which is
proven and used in a wide range of cameras. They had well known product
names (EOS-300, Rebel and Kiss) and bodies to match which new entrants
to digital will find comfortable, and they have a large range of lenses
to offer, which of course are the real money makers. So what was the logical
step? A sub $1,000 digital SLR which included a useful but moderately
limited lens (a 28 - 90 mm is considered fairly standard on newbie SLR
kits). Enter the EOS 300D. The only surprise? I think perhaps Canon took
the competition a little unawares in regards to timing, I would make an
educated guess that most of the manufacturers were expecting the EOS 300D
at PMA 2004.

What's the EOS 300D's weakness? Feature set. Canon are caught in a dilemma,
they had to have a camera with a reduced feature set otherwise nobody
would consider the EOS 10D (or any camera which replaces it). Almost laughably
the majority of the EOS 300D's limitations are 'programmed in', that is
they are simply software features which have been disabled. Obviously
reducing the feature set leaves the EOS 300D weaker in some respects than
many similarly priced prosumer digital cameras. Canon are clearly hoping
that the speed, AF, lens choice and low noise high ISO trade-offs will
be worth it for a considerable number of people, who will buy into EF
lenses and work their way up to an EOS 10D priced digital SLR in the future.
Canon made a shrewd move with the EOS 300D, who knows if they're making
a profit on it but it hardly seems to matter, it will guarantee their
continued dominance of the digital SLR market, and their take-over of
much of the high end prosumer market.

Highly Recommended

UPDATE: February 2004:
Having re-tested with a final production EOS 300D we find that the original
test results are virtually identical, the late pre-production camera we
had for the first revision of this review differing very little from final
production. Canon's only concern now should be the Nikon D70 which has
appeared since we first published this review.

So which one should I buy? A question I
get asked several times a day, and I wouldn't like to say. In a new addition
to my reviews (after the amount of feedback I normally get) I've added
a link to a specific forum in which you can discuss the review or ask
me specific questions which I've not answered in these pages.

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Comments

Big downgrade from the 10D, first plastic body, second NO custom menus. This camera is aimed squarely at the PS crowd. The good news out of this is they are releasing a 100~400 F4 L with IS, assuming it's better optically than the current 100~400 this lens should sell like hot cakes!!!

It looks like Nikon/Minolta/Sony are in BIG trouble with this new camera.

The camera has a rotation sensor which allows automatic rotation of images. This is a very important feature lacking on other far more expensive cameras. I'm unsure if the images themselves are rotated, which saves a lot of time in post-production, or if just the previews are rotated, which is a lot less useful but still far better than the Nikon cameras I use like the D1H. I can manually rotate images inside my Canon A70, but this only applies to the preview. With the A70 I still have to rotate in post.

I purchased an EOS 300D in Bath, 2003, their first EOS product as I had been stolen my professional NIKON in Liverpool. It isn't too bad and using Photoshop you are able to improve pictures' quality. I am a freelance journalist/photograph.Now, when I asked CANON for a copy of the lost original Firmware/software they refuse to deliver one. "No software is available" they said. My God! CANON forget old customers! Has any one a copy of original CD for an EOS 300D? PLEASE....I pay for that copy.Tell me at ipanewsuk@eircom.net